He’s got 99 problems and they’re all — well, the lyric is pretty strong and catchy without having to finish it. But the thoughtful, introspective and sometimes borderline-emo rapper Kid Cudi releases his latest album, ‘Man on the Moon II: The Legend of Mr. Rager,’ today, hopefully with more insights to share.

Fans first heard ‘REVOFEV,’ ‘Erase Me’ and ‘Mr. Rager,’ singles from his new album that were released throughout the year. The 17-track collection shouldn’t disappoint true Cudi fans, as the rapper delves deeper into his past to deliver raw, honest lyrics.  

Last year’s album, ‘Man on the Moon: The End of Day,’ sold 104,419 copies in its first week and earned the fourth position in the Billboard 200. This time around, Cudi faces some stiff release-day competition with Cee-Lo Green also releasing his album, ‘The Lady Killer,’ featuring his critically acclaimed song, ‘F*** You.’

In honor of the ever-versatile Cudi and his first follow-up album, let’s revisit three of the Kid’s best moments. From ‘Man on the Moon’ to his latest musical endeavors, each song depicts the depth and personal pain behind each Cudi track.

1. ‘Pursuit of Happiness:’ This song has a depressing message, yet the smooth, pseudo-techo beat that is nothing short of trance-inducing doesn’t leave the listener completely down in the dumps. The lyrics are relatable, especially to anyone working toward something he or she wants. When Cudi promises that he’ll be fine once he reaches that unattainable ‘it,’ the song gives hope that life may one day get better for the artist.
2. ‘Day ‘n’ Nite:’ This is a good dance song (especially the Crookers remix), and Cudi once again manages to mask a painstaking story behind a happy tempo. The first hit single from ‘Man on the Moon,’ it’s no surprise this is still the most recognizable Cudi track. As the title suggests, it’s the perfect mix of dark and light, mixing melancholy lyrics with a radio-friendly beat. Like so many other of his songs, the lyrics peel back to Cudi’s sordid history, revealing the song’s borderline-depressing inspiration. Sure, it’s a little moody for the average hip-hop listener, but it’s a distinct change of pace from all the other autotuned songs out there.
3. ‘Soundtrack 2 My Life:’ The MTV show ‘World of Jenks’ adopted this tune as its opening theme. The opening lyrics are a twist to Jay-Z’s ’99 Problems,’ which seem to be more reminiscent of true life. With puns and deep thoughts, this song shows that the man has a way with words. On the surface, this song can lull listeners to sleep with its smooth rhythms and catchy hook. But listen closer and the song reveals how disturbed Cudi’s life really is. Unlike a lot of his recent work, every word counts in this song. Cudi’s best lyrics come when he treats a song like an internal conversation with himself, and this song is proof of that.

kaoutram@syr.edu